Friday, April 6, 2012

Merry-Go-Round

MANILA, Philippines — In 1960, when the Marinduque Moryon Festival
was one-and-a-half century old, this Lenten practice underwent a
transformation. From a highly individualistic, personal pursuit, it
became part of a team effort, an attempt by municipal and tourism
authorities to regulate and put a semblance of order in an otherwise,
disparate, dispersed, unfettered display of cultural and religious
observance.

Part of the reason is to cater to tourists. The other is an
honest-to-goodness desire by scholars and educators to revive an
otherwise dying, highly localized ethnic tradition. The old moryon
practices, seen by native residents as spontaneous, unrehearsed Lenten
jollity, have turned into a ritualized display of religious fervor.

History will judge whether the transformation was a positive spin
that allows us to enjoy this unique Lenten tradition, or we have simply
lost and will never regain the old comical, amusing, unrehearsed way
Marinduqueños view their Lenten rites..... MORE

MANILA, Philippines — Traditions die hard, especially when they are rooted in religion and folklore.
Filipinos have long observed Holy Week rites, from waving the
palaspas on Palm Sunday to joining the pabasa on Maundy Thursday and
watching the penitents on Good Friday.

But technological advances like smart phones, email, and GPS have
changed the cultural landscape and individual lifestyles. Have these
changes diminished the fervor for Holy Week rituals?

Manila Bulletin Research did random interviews to find out what Holy Week traditions have lost their sway among the faithful..... MORE

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – Ruben Enaje is near the end of his 27-year vow.

Enaje will be nailed to the cross for the 26th straight year today, Good Friday.

The “crucifixion” of Enaje and 20 other penitents has been the high
point of the Good Friday observance in Barangay San Pedro Cutud, an
event that draws thousands of the devout and the curious to the small
village.
But the 51-year-old artist feels he is getting too old to continue
the ritual. “I can already feel my body complaining,” Enaje told the
Manila Bulletin in Filipino.

He looked at the huge wooden cross that he keeps in his
workplace. “This will be my retirement cross. I put my heart into making
this because this will be part of my last performance next year,” he
said.
... MORE